Jaan-e-Azlan❤

09(edited)

Azlan's words hung heavy in the air, dropping like a weight on Mantasha's unsuspecting mind. Her initial reaction was one of disbelief, a reflexive chuckle bubbling up from within as she assumed he was jesting, a desperate attempt to distract her from the turmoil of the day's events, particularly the unsettling encounter with Saad.

"Nice one, Azi," she managed between fits of laughter, her voice laced with a hint of incredulity. "You're becoming quite the comedian. I almost fell for it. But seriously, you're just trying to lighten the mood, aren't you?"

"I am serious Mantasha," the gravity of his expression told a different story. The laughter died on Mantasha's lips as she met his unwavering gaze, her amusement fading into confusion and then apprehension. Azlan rarely used her full name, reserving it for moments of sincerity or, occasionally, frustration. The weight of his seriousness settled upon her, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"You're... serious?" she ventured cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. Azlan's nod confirmed her worst fears.

"I am," he affirmed, his tone devoid of its usual warmth, replaced instead by a steely resolve that sent shivers down Mantasha's spine. "I mean every word."

A wave of uncertainty washed over her, her mind racing to make sense of the situation. She searched his eyes for any hint of jest, any trace of the playful banter they often shared, but found only sincerity staring back at her.

"Please say something," Panic threatened to consume her as she struggled to find the right words to respond.

"You can't just say something like that, Azi," she protested weakly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Especially not now, not like this. If it's about Saad, I promise I'm okay. You don't need to do this."

But Azlan shook his head resolutely, his gaze unwavering. "It's not about him," he insisted, his voice soft yet unwavering. "It's about us. About what I want."

Mantasha's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat as the weight of his confession settled upon her. She sat in stunned silence, unable to process the magnitude of his words. This was real, raw, and utterly unexpected.

"Are you even hearing yourself?" she finally managed to voice her incredulity, her words tinged with a mixture of astonishment and confusion. Azlan nodded, leaving her reeling with disbelief.

"How can you?" she continued, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I never thought of you that way. Heck, I never thought of anyone that way."

Her disbelief echoed in the air, hanging between them like a heavy veil. "I am lost really. I don't know what to say. I can't wrap my head around it." Massaging her scalp, she said.

Despite feeling overwhelmed by her emotions, Mantasha couldn't help but notice how sincere Azlan looked and how determined he sounded when he spoke.

Misha," he finally spoke, his voice soft yet resolute. "I'm not asking for an answer right now. I just... I want you to know how much you mean to me. How much I need you in my life."

"I know it's hard to wrap your head around," he continued, his voice filled with an earnestness that tugged at her heartstrings. "But take your time. Think about it. And when you're ready, I'll be here."

With those words, he laid bare his heart before her, his vulnerability a testament to the depth of his feelings.

He didn't push, didn't demand an immediate answer. Instead, he simply held space for her, a silent anchor in the storm of her thoughts.

As they drove in silence toward their shared home, Mantasha couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope amidst the tumult of her emotions, a sense that perhaps, amidst the chaos, there was a chance for something beautiful to blossom.